Ancient fire-making, solar car designing and tree-ring counting were just a few of the activities undertaken by children at the fourth High Weald Sustainable Energy Day held at Ashdown Forest.
Over 100 pupils from High Weald Hero schools: Sir Henry Fermor; Rotherfield; High Hurstwood; and St Mary's Catholic Primary School, engaged in a whole day of energy-themed activities. The children learnt about many different types of energy and how they can be sourced from their unique local environment - the High Weald. They explored past energy sources such as fire-making, present uses such as woodfuel and looked at future options by designing and making solar cars.
The day was organised as part of the High Weald Heroes primary school education programme with help from The Skinners' School, Beacon Community College, Ashdown Forest Conservators, ESAMP and the Sussex Wildlife Trust.
Numerous teaching resources have been developed for primary school teachers about energy and its link to the High Weald landscape. They are free to download from the Learning Zone.
The project was funded by the Weald Forest Ridge Landscape Partnership Scheme with support from the Heritage Lottery Fund and the High Weald Joint Advisory Committee's Sustainable Development Fund.